258 HERMIT THRUSH. 



Tlie song of the Wood Tlirusli is wholly unlike 

 that of the Veery. It opens with the flutelike notes, 

 -i::zN~-=r~ 7 — 3 and is sung disconnectedly, being broken 

 ~*^^^p^3 by pauses and by low notes, audible only 



Come to me, when one is near the singer. 



The Hermit Thrush is a more northern bird than 



either the Veery or the Wood Thrush. It rarely nests at 



Hermit Tlirusli '^^'^ ievel south of Vermont or northern 

 Turdus aonaiHschkm Michigan, but in the higher portions of 

 paikisii Massachusetts and on the crests of the 



Catskills and Alleghanies in Pennsyl- 

 vania, it is also found breeding. It winters from south- 

 ern Illinois and New Jersey southward to the Gulf, it 

 being the only member of its genus to inhabit the east- 

 ern United States at that seasou. Its sjDring migrations 

 occur between Ajjril 5 and May 10, and in the fall we 

 see it from October 15 to JSTovember 25, while occasion- 

 ally it may winter. 



During its migrations the Ilei-mit Thrush usually fre- 

 quents woodlands, where it may often Ije seen on or near 

 the ground. Like the Veery, it is a ground-nester, and 

 its eggs, though slightly lighter in color, resemble those 

 of the Veery and Wood Thrush in being plain, bluish 

 green. When alighting, the Hermit has a characteristic 

 habit of gently raising and lowering its tail, and at the 

 same time uttering a low churl'. Sometimes it sings 

 during the winter, in Florida, and also while migrating : 

 but if you would hear this inspired songster at his best, 

 you must visit him in his summer home. The Hermit's 

 song resembles that of the Wood Thrush in form, but 

 it is more tender and serene. O spheral, spheral ! O 

 holy, holy ! Mr. Burroughs writes the its opening notes, 

 and there is something about the words which seems to 

 express the spirit of heavenly peace with which the bird's 

 song is imbued. 



